Two systems of care mental health and substance addiction

Two systems of care mental health and substance addiction

Part 1

1. It is not surprising that people with mental disorders also have a higher risk of having AOD disorders. The case is similar for people who have AOD disorders as they are at risk of having mental health disorders. AOD disorders refer to conditions that are affected by alcohol and other drugs. The statistics reveal that approximately one third of mental patients that have a psychiatric disorder familiarize with AOD abuse at some period of their condition. This is twice the overall rate for people who do not have any psychiatric disorders. Generally, people who have psychological conditions such as panic disorders and schizophrenia tend to use alcohol and other drugs in order escape their psychological and emotional turmoil.

Alcohol and drugs give these people a feeling that makes them feel “better” or “high.” However, the feeling is always temporary and ultimately they become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. The condition becomes critical leading to AOD disorders. Alcohol and substance abuse is known to have adverse mental effects on the user. Alcohol and drug addiction has the tendency of causing emotional and psychological imbalance. These imbalances can lead to mental disorders such as panic disorder, stress, depression and anxiety disorders. In addition, relapses form AOD can further cause psychiatric decompensation. This worsens the psychiatric disorders.

2. It is interesting to discover that dual disorder patients are inclined to experience problems that are more severe compared to those with one specific condition either mental or AOD disorder (Ries, 2001). This is based on the assumption that dual disorders are similar to other disorders. In addition, the symptoms and effects of dual disorders seem the same to other mental disorders. In addition, relapses are common is people with mental disorders. However, medical reports state that people with dual disorders have chronic and severe social, medical, emotional and social problems. The common assumption that dual disorders have similar effects to other mental conditions is deterred by the fact that management of two disorders is difficult. This is because patients with dual disorders are vulnerable to both the worsening of their psychiatric disorder and AOD relapse.

Addiction relapse causes further effects on the psychiatric condition. When psychiatric problems become worse, they lead to addiction relapse. In addition, the effects of the dual disorder also depend on the combination of disorder. Some disorders are more severe than others. Patients with dual disorders also require longer treatment periods as compared to those who have single disorders. They also progress more gradually in their treatment regimen. This is also because dual disorders also vary and have important dimensions such as chronicity, severity, disability and the overall degree of functional impairment. This information offers an insight far from the conventional thinking related to dual disorders.

Part 2

Mental health systems and substance abuse systems have numerous similarities. One of the major similarities in both systems is the integration of various program types and treatment settings. These programs are incorporated in the systems in order to offer an effective and efficient treatment program. Both offer the social and medical approach towards treatment. Their programs are therefore divided on the basis of period such as short-term and long-term. The programs also vary with respect to treatment philosophies and goals. The services offered include inpatient treatment, rehabilitation and counseling. The various practitioners involved in the settings and programs include psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors and physicians.

Another similarity lies in the multiple levels of care that both mental and substance abuse systems have. The division of the condition sets the basis for the level of treatment and care. The mental health system and the substance abuse arrangement have several degrees of treatment. The levels in the mental care system are set for patients who have acute, sub-acute and long-term symptoms of illness.  Patients undergoing addiction treatment have long-term and sort-term care, methane detoxification and maintenance and the self help adjuncts for instance 12-step programs.

Mental health systems are different from substance abuse systems. One of the differences is the fact that use of medication is dominant in the mental treatment than the addiction system. These medications are especially important in severe mental disorders. The medications that are used are also different. Some of the medications for psychiatric disorders are non-psychoactive and psychoactive medications. Those who work in the field of addiction treatment have limited knowledge of medications for psychiatric conditions. Medications for addiction are also used for the complications that are associated with addiction such as overdose withdrawal. Direct treatment involves drugs such as naltrexone and disulfiram. In addition, most of the practitioners in the addiction treatment programs lack proper knowledge of the medication to be used.

The mental health treatment system has relatively complex and larger variety of the treatment settings. The settings are less in the addiction program.  The settings in the mental arrangement are designed to cater for patients with various levels and symptoms. These are the long-term, acute and sub-acute symptom approach. The acute services are offered in hospital units and emergency rooms by specialists such as mental health law and commitment specialists, crisis-line personnel and outreach specialists. Long-term treatments involve mental healthcare centers, practitioner’s offices and residential units. Sub-acute services are provided in the day treatment and mental health centre programs, a number of individual practitioners and hospitals. The addiction system does not have such complex settings.

Reference

Ries, R., & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001). Assessment and treatment of patients with coexisting mental illnes and alcohol and other drug abuse. Rockville,MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

 

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